The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-09-03
THE CENTRAL RAILROAD
ONE OF GEORGIA'S GRANDEST
ENTERPRISES.

-Savannah's Want of External Com
Supplied Early History of the Cen
tral-First Report of the President
Railroads a Novelty-Two New En-
terprises Contrasted- Reaches Ma
con-What Followed Magical De
velopm entA Gigantic System New
Extensions-South Carolina Connec.
tions-A New and Rich Region
Opened Up--The Fleet of Steam
ships-Steam Cotton Presses-Pres
ent Business Outlook - Interstate
Law-The Names of the Presidents
Conclusion.
To the conception and completion through
80 Macon of the Georgia Central railroad is
Savannah indebted for deiverance from the
seni-asphy xiation of many years caused by
the lack of interior communication. Her
river formed the only medium of ac-
cess to the upper country, and
even this was often interrupted by
protracted droughts and damaging freshets.
At best, too, intercourse with the great in
terror was restricted to narrow skirt of
territory save by tedious and expensive
wagon transportation. Surrounded also for
nearly 100 miles by thinly populated and
comparatively barren region producing but
little, it can readily be perceived that the
town was almost wholly dependent upon its
maritime commerce for support. This,
however, was necessarily limited for the
above reasons, and no wonder that the
+ha ,1at
NAMED nearly stationary numbering only
about 5000 SOULS for quite a number of
years.
But with the opening up section by sec
ton, OF the ''old Central" the city advanced
pdf-f pdSstt with its ever expanding business
and new impetus was given to everything
Soon the arrivals and departures of coast
wise and foreign vessels largely increased
and the value of imports and exports began
to assume greatly enhanced proportions
In short, the era of stagnation had
passed, and throbbing life and activity
gave place to erstwhile apathy
almost akin to despair. OF course with the
rise and growth of the numerous towns and
villages that sprang into existence almost
simultaneously with the advent of the road
the business of Savannah has increased
proportionately, until at length she has be-
come the leading city and trade centre on
the Atlantic and Gulf coast, from Balti-
more to New Orleans. While other enter
prises have doubtless contributed their full
share to the consummation of these grand
results, to the Central Railway System"
with its far reaching connections is much of
the credit unquestionably due.
In this annual review and expose of the
condition and progress of our chief seaport.
it will be both interesting and appropriate TO
give succinct sketch of the origin, career
and present status of this great Southern or
ganization.
EARLY HISTORY.
IL was towards the close of 1884 that the
preliminary survey under the auspices of
the city of Savannah was completed by
Col. Cruger, to ascertain the most available
route for a railway from that point to Ma
con, Ga. 1t was then decided that the
scheme was practicable and could be carried
out at moderate cost. Accordingly two years
later, in April, 1886, the company under its
present name and style was formally organ
lied by the election of Col. w. w. Gordon
President, and soon after began operations
l.. O. Reynolds was appointed Chief Engi-
neer, and another survey was made, COM
mencing at Macon, under his direction, dur
ing the same year. When this was COM
,pleted, and all the grades, distances and va
Iious details had been carefully examined,
the board of directors unanimously
determined to adopt what is known
as the Northern Route" in
lieu of the Southern" From that time.
lengths continued TO be let out until the
whole road was in process of construction
and finally completed Many were the
prejudices to be encountered and the OBJ
stacles to be overcome, but the indefatiga-
BILE President w. w Gordon and his faith
ful assistants, never faltered for an instant
until their herculean undertaking had been
consunmated.
The first report of the President was
submitted on May 20, 1885,
To illustrate how little was then really
known concerning the scope and operations
of a railroad at that early era in their his
tory, President Gordon commenting in this
report upon the recent employment of a
civil engineer naively remarked: SIN the
commencement of the work. it was deemed
expedient to secure the services of an
engineer of established character and repu-
tation, by which it was hoped we should
avoid those errors which have usually
occurred in enterprises of noUet cltorac-
ter.n
1t should be remembered that at the period
referred to, however, the only railroad in
the South was the lee CON- citing Charles
ton with Augusta. sa- the passenger coaches
used were in the shape Of a
HUG< BARREL,
thus constructed, we suppose, to roll out of
danger with greater facility if 'derailed. E"
In May, 1888, twenty-six miles had been
graded and equipped and engines were run
ming that distance. The grading alone had
Teen finished for sixty-Seven miles, but il
was not until July that passenger trains
were put on regularly and began to be
source of some income
As was to be expected in the infancy and
unfinished condition of the enterprise, the
revenues were small, though they seem to
have been regarded as quite encouraging.
Thus we find in the fifth report OF Mr.. Cor
don when the road was operated 100 miles,
to point near the Ogeechee river. the to-
tai receipts from freights and passengers
for the six months ending April 80, 1910,
were given at $50, 1855 96. lnstituting a
comparison between this statement and the
receipts of the South Carolina road, which
which We're SIS .9S2 ~ for the half year
ending May /, 1888 the President remarks
as follows:
"This particular period of the operations
of that road is selected for the analogy it
appears to bear 20 the condition of ours for
this last six months as regards the state of
advancement of the enterprise, distance
completed, and other circumstances. They
We're then running 70 nilas had "a ,,,otiya